Bayonetta 2 on Wii U, timed exclusive???

When Platinum Games announced Bayonetta 2 will be exclusive on Wii U that include Nintendo publishing the second game. Fans of the first game was furious because it felt like Nintendo robbed the game from it's console of choice (PS3 and 360). Others defend this decision saying it should be exclusive to Wii U because Nintendo saved Bayonetta 2. But I always question the exclusive-ness of Bayonetta 2 on Wii U, in my opinion I think Bayonetta 2 may be timed exclusive. The last time I check, Nintendo didn't buy Platinum Game nor did they buy Bayonetta IP from Sega. Therefore, Bayonetta 2 is timed exclusive. Just because Nintendo publish Bayonetta 2 doesn't really mean it's stay on Wii U forever. We've seen these third party exclusives don't stay exclusives too long, here's a history of exclusives that didn't stay exclusive on one console.

Ninja Gaiden 2/Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2: How a Microsoft published game became a "sigma" for PS3:

When Microsoft, Team Ninja, and Tecmo showed off Ninja Gaiden 2 at Tokyo Game show in 2007, it was announced that Microsoft would publish the game on 360 and said it would be exclusive on 360. Many people speculated that Ninja Gaiden 2 would never see a PS3 release (before that, Ninja Gaiden 1 on Xbox was remade into Ninja Gaiden Sigma for PS3). When that game was released, the boxart sported "Only on Xbox 360" meaning no PS3 release.

Note the "Only on Xbox 360" tag

However this "only on Xbox 360" game didn't last too long, A year later, after Ninja Gaiden 2's release on Xbox 360, Tecmo announced Ninja Gaiden 2 would get a PS3 port titled Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2. The gameplay and the story from the Xbox 360 version was kept intact with more content added for the PS3 version (including bouncy boobs)

A year later, Ninja Gaiden 2 came to PS3 under Ninja Gaiden Sigma 2

So there you go, Microsoft publish this game yet it somehow ended up on PS3.

Castle Crashers: Published by Microsoft (and Sony):

Now I like Castle Crashers, it has a cool gameplay and I like the animation. However, when Castle Crashers came out on XBLA in 2008, Microsoft published it meaning the game may never get a PS3 port. However, 2 years after it's XBLA release, it was announced that Castle Crashers will get a PS3 version and Sony will publish the PS3 version. The PS3 version of Castle Crashers has a volleyball minigame. Why did Castle Crashers got ported to PS3 when Microsoft published the game? It turns out that Castle Crashers IP doesn't belong to Microsoft, hence Castle Crashers can go to PS3 with a different publisher. MS can make the game timed exclusives, but can't keep the game from going to other console. The same goes for Ninja Gaiden 2, MS doesn't own Ninja Gaiden IP, Tecmo does.

Published by both Microsoft and Sony respectively

Mass Effect: Published by Microsoft, coming to PS3:

Now when it was announced that Mass Effect 2 was coming to PS3, Microsoft released this statement stating Mass Effect 1 would remain exclusive to Xbox 360 due to Microsoft publishing the game. 5 years after the 360 release, and 2 years after this statement was made, EA and Bioware announced the Mass Effect trilogy and the big surprise for the PS3 version, Mass Effect 1 is coming to PS3.

Nobody would&#Array;ve thought this game would come to PS3!!!

This news shock a lot of Mass Effect fans, who would've thought that a game that Microsoft stated would remain Xbox 360 exclusive would go to PS3. I was even shocked and happy when I heard the announcement. However, I have heard from Bayonetta fans after hearing the news that ME1 coming to PS3 have now begin questioning Bayonetta 2 exclusive on Wii U, and some share my thoughts about how Nintendo does not own Bayonetta 2 and the game may end up on PS3/360 a year after the Wii U release. They've compared Bayonetta 2 Wii U situation to Mass Effect 1. However, Mass Effect 1 is not the last exclusive I will be talking about on this blog, there's one last (former exclusive) game I like to bring up (and save the best for the last) and it's comparable to Bayonetta 2 Wii U exclusive situation.

Goldeneye/Goldeneye Reloaded: a Nintendo funded game that got "reloaded" for PS3 and 360:

Now Activision and Nintendo had the N64 classic remade/reimagined because they couldn't bring the N64 version to Virtual console due to legal complication (Microsoft owned Rare, Nintendo owned the N64 classic, and Activision is current video game holder for all James Bond games) hence why you don't see the N64 classic on either Virtual console or XBLA. This led to Nintendo and Activision formed a partnership to remake Goldeneye for the Wii. Goldeneye came out in 2010 and published by Activision. Now you're wondering how is this related to Bayonetta 2, because Goldeneye just like Bayonetta 2 had help from Nintendo, as a matter of fact, Nintendo spearheaded the Goldeneye remake just like they spearheaded Bayonetta 2.

Just like Bayonetta 2, Goldeneye had help from Nintendo

Also Activision said because of this partnership, they said Goldeneye would remain exclusive on Wii, below is a quote from Activision why Goldeneye is exclusive for Wii:

“There are a number of different reasons,” said Activision’s Brian Pass as he explained the decision. “One is we have a partnership with Nintendo. It’s a great opportunity. This game was originally on the N64, so there’s the nostalgia factor for people that are Nintendo fans. So we wanted to partner with Nintendo for this.

“The opportunity on the Nintendo Wii platform is huge. There’s roughly 12 million Wiis in North America. But it’s not really a console that a lot of shooter fans are playing on. So we wanted to offer them their own first-person shooter, that’s unique and exclusive to that console.

“We really want to tap in to the nostalgia for Nintendo fans, and take advantage of the opportunity presented by the platform.”

Now why does one part of statement sound similar? Oh right, because Platinum said something similar regarding Bayonetta 2 Wii U exclusive, that's why the Bayonetta 2 on Wii U situation is so similar to Goldeneye on Wii. They both had help from Nintendo.

A year later after the Wii release, Activision announced Goldeneye Reloaded for PS3 and 360. I just like many gamers were shocked that a Wii exclusive would get a PS3 and 360 port when Goldeneye was remade for Wii to replace the N64 classic they couldn't bring to Virtual Console and XBLA. Goldeneye Reloaded had more content then the Wii counterpart. This was a nice welcome for PS3 and 360 owners for those to play a great game like Goldeneye.

Activision said this was supposed to be Wii exclusive, and now look what happen

So you see, not even Goldeneye was really exclusive to Wii. Whenever Bayonetta 2 Wii U exclusive pop up, I use Goldeneye on Wii to make a comparison (including Mass Effect 1 coming to PS3).

Other "exclusive" that ended up on other console:

-Bioshock 1 "only on Xbox 360 and PC" came to PS3 a year later.

-Star Ocean 4: The last Hope International Version on PS3, previously came out first on Xbox 360 a year earlier.

-Fallout 3 DLC came out first on 360, then to PSN a year later.

-GTA 4 DLC like Fallout 3 DLC came out first on 360, then came to PS3 a year later.

As I said, Bayonetta 2 is timed exclusive just because Nintendo publish it doesn't make them owner of Bayonetta 2. Nintendo didn't buy out Platinum Game, nor did they bought Bayonetta IP from SEGA. Mass Effect 1 was published my MS yet 5 years later it's headed toward PS3, and Goldeneye on Wii was supposed to stay on Wii due to the relationship between Goldeneye and Nintendo and now it's on PS3 and 360. I do believe after Bayonetta 2 come out, we may see a PS3/360 port of Bayonetta 2 a year later just like any timed exclusive. I don't know if the PS3/360 version would be titled Bayonetta 2, it could be renamed "Bayonetta 2: Ultimate Climax" or "Bayonetta 2: Reloaded". But whatever it is, Nintendo only has Bayonetta 2 on Wii U temporary, not permanent. Learn from past "exclusives" and decide for yourselves. The day Bayonetta 2 get announced for PS3/360, it'll just be history repeating itself just like any other exclusives. So for a lot of you that are complaining and moaning over Bayonetta 2 being exclusive on Wii U, look at the past exclusives that end up on other console and factor in Nintendo not owning the studio nor Bayonetta IP. Also after Bayonetta 2 Wii U release, wait a year (or 2) later to see if Platinum announce a PS3/360 release.